Windmill toy.



1. F. AMEND.A WINDMILL TOY. APPLICATION FILED APR.10| 1918.y

` Patented July 30, 1918..v

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JUDSON F. AMEND, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON. -v *f WINDMILL Toy..

Specification of Iletters Patent. Paktginted July 3f-)5 191.8.

Application filed April 10, 1918. Serial No. 227,721. l

It consists in a frame' adapted to I be mounted in an exposed position on a build-' ing, a iag pole,or the like, and provided with a. vane or rudder which keeps it facing the wind. A fan wheel is carried by the frame on the opposite side from the rudder and has a friction roller adjustably mounted on its shaft. The upper part of the frame constitutes a platform for the toy figures to travel on and has a central bearing for the stem or shaft of a friction disk, which restsupon and is driven by said friction roller. The toy figures, which may represent bicycle riders, are connected to said stem or shaft by radial arms, which are pivoted or otherwise loosely connected to the upper part of said stem or shaft, so that the figures will rest by their own weight on said platform, and the friction disk will bear by gravity on the roller. When the fan wheel is rotated by the wind, the figures are caused to travel around on the platform, simulating a bicycle race in the embodiment illustrated. The rudder is preferably painted to represent the United States Hag, and the fan wheel may be similarly painted. The speed at which the figures travel may be varied by adjusting the friction roller longitudinally of the fan wheel shaft. The device forms an amusing toy for children and an attractive ornament as avweather vane.

I will now describe it in detail with ref erence to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the toy mounted on a flag pole or post.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper part of the frame.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a modified form of connection between the radial arms and the friction disk shaft.

. another modified form of said connection.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view Vof thefrm of i connection shown in 1 and 2.

n In these views, `1 represents'the frame, preferably constructed of wood, and 2 the rudder or vane, which ispreferably of metal and painted, as stated,'to represent the flag. 3 is the platform 'at the top ofthe frame', and 4 the pin by which the frameV is revolu blyfmounted on the post 5. A Q v f Y `6 is'the fan wheel carriedl by' the'shaft 8, journaled in the upright members 7 ofthe frame, as shown inFig.` 3.- .Shaft 8 carries thefrietion roller 9, lwhich is adjustable longitudinally thereon.v As-.ShOWD, the roller is providedV with y a set-screwi 1'0' to hold yit in adjusted position, but the roller vmay have a .screw-threaded connection with the shaft, if preferred. The platform 3 has a central bearing sleeve for the stem or shaft 11 of the friction disk 15, which rests upon and is driven by the roller 9. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, the upper partV of the stem 11 is flattened and engages elongated slots in the ends of the arms 12, a pin 13 passing through the top of the stem to hold the arms in place. The outer ends of said arms carry the toy figures 14 which, as shown, are mounted on bicycles with their feet connected to cranks so as to simulate pedaling. As before stated, it is necessary that the radialv arms carrying the figf ures be loosely connected to the stem or shaft, so that the weight of the figures will keep them in contact with the platform and so .c that the friction disk will bear on the roller.

In Fig. 5, thearins are rods 22, which pass Vthrough slots in the stem and are provided with nuts 24 on each side of the stem. A modified form of connection is shown in Fig. 4, in which the stem carries a collar 23, to which the arms 25, in this case shown as three in number, are pivoted.

In small sizes of the toy, I prefer to use vonly two of the toy figures, but of course three or more can be used in larger sizes.

; Having described my invention, what I yloosely mounted at one end on said shaft,

a toy figure attached to the otherV end of said erin, a fan wheel rotatably mounted on said frame, and connections between said wheel and said shaft.

2. In a windmill toy, a frame, a platform thereon, a shaft projecting therethrough, a fan wheel carried by said frame, connections from said wheel to drive said shaft, a toy figure resting on said platform, and a radial arm rigidly connectedl at one end to said figure and loosely connected at the other end to said shaft.

3. A windmill toy comprising a fan, a stationary platform below which the shaft of said fan is journaled, a driving member on said shaft, a driven member journaled in said platform, and toy figures arranged to travel onrsaid platform and having a loose connection to said driven member.

4. A Windmill toy comprising a frame having a rudder or vane, means to revolubly support said frame, a fan wheel on said frame, a shaft for said wheel journaled in said frame, a friction roller on said shaft, a platform onisaid frame, a friction disk resting on said roller, a shaft or stem carried by said disk and journaled in said platform, toy figures ladapted to travel on said platform, arms attached to said fig-v ures and pivoted to said shaft or stem, and means whereby said roller can be longitudinally adjusted 0n said fan Shaft.

5. A toy of the class described, comprising a frame having a vane or rudder projecting therefrom and supported so as to be capable of turning on a vertical axis, a horizontal shaft journaled in said frame, a fan wheel A on one end of said shaft, a friction roller on said shaft within said frame, a friction disk resting on said roller, a platform on said frame above said disk, a Stem carried by said disk and journaled in said platform,

m hand.

y J UDSONF. AMEND.

Copiel of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o'f Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

